Omar Sharriff (Dave Alexander)

We are saddened to report that Blues singer, piano player Omar Sharriff (Dave Alexander) died Sunday January 8th, 2012. He had been living in Marshall, TX. Here is a link to his obituary.

An innovative lyricist and pianist, he had become a boogie-woogie icon as the ambassador of the Marshall, Texas Boogie Woogie Program.

Omar recorded two albums for Arhoolie Records in 1972 under his given name of Dave Alexander. He recorded again for Arhoolie in 1991, and a CD came out in 1992 combining his new and older recordings. We still have both of his LPs and his CD available.

Although recently known as a Boogie-Woogie player, here is his deep blues song The Raven.

Omar said of this song:

"The Raven was written for and about my kid brother who was brutally beaten to death in Oakland, CA in the early 1970s. It was probably the second most disturbing thing to happen to me in all my life. I turned to music for my soul release, to express my sorrows and my anger. The piano solo in The Raven is my simultaneous expression of rage and sorrow. The song is dedicated to all the people who have suffered similiar fates."

Here are some great videos from Youtube:
"Omar Sharriff plays a Homecoming Concert in Marshall, Texas, the Birthplace of Boogie Woogie, where he grew up as David Alexander Elam. It was Omar's first time to return to Marshall after an absence of 55 years."
Part One:
Part Two:
Part Three:
Part Four:
Part Five: